Was doing some photo hunting, and may have found a relative of mine who died in Normandy. http://www.wwii.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=85
Eric, it's easy but time consuming. Get down to your local Registrar. Hand over your wallet to get copies of your grandfather's birth certificate. This will then give you his parents names etc, then you can start tracing their other children through the hatched, matched and dispatched records. Just hand over a few days, a lot of petrol, all of your hard earned money and voila! Family tree. Though I have to say something similar happened to us. We had been told we were cousins to W/C Guy Gibson, but didn't really believe it. Then we saw a photo of the lad...my brother to a T, and the rest of us to some degree as well. But good luck with the hunt and let us know how it goes. Kitty
Erik Any idea when the WW2 service records will be released like the Great war ones are? Getting a look at them would help. Have you been in touch with HLIof C Regtl HQ yet? Could they help?
Service records are available to the public on a limited basis and requests for information can only be made in writing. It's probably only a matter of contacting my grandmother, which I will do tomorrow.
If my calculations are correct, Pte. H.B. Hillis, died July 8, 1944 is my second cousin, twice removed. He is not in my branch (he's in the next branch over )... his great grandfather is my great great great grandfather. Here is my little chart: Thomas Hillis - 1836, born in Scotland [my ggg grandfather] Sons > John Hillis (1867), Ontario. Harolds branch. > George Hillis (1869), Ontario. My branch. John had John Nelson and J.N. had Harold B. George had William who had Douglas who had my Father, then me. It was very interesting digging into my family tree, I'm kind of sad the search is over. It amazing how much we look alike, yet he isn't in my direct branch. Thanks to everyone who helped me out.
Erik, The link to cousin Hillis' photo is down. When are we going to see the photos of you and him side by side.
I always find it quite emotional to see these graves. Only 21, and so many more like him. And all heroes...
I always find it quite emotional to see these graves. Only 21, and so many more like him. And all heroes... So true, when you go to the cementries you cannot help but think of those that did not make it and still think of those that did. They are all heroes and we must never forget!
Erik's relative. It's 63 years ago today since he was killed. Pte. H.B. Hillis using truck mirror for shaving in bomb shuttered garage. He died 2 weeks later and is buried in Beny-Sur-Mer, Normandy.
I'm not sure how they got it wrong, but he was actually 22 when he was killed. Still, only 22. They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old!
